Relay



July 26,' 1932. H. M. BAscoM RELAY Filed June 17, 1930 INVENTOR BY Ejascona/ ATTORNEY Patented July 26, 1932 HENRY M. BASCOM, F BROOKLYN,NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TOiAMERICAN 'A AND TELEGRAPH coMrANY, @CORPORATION onA NEW Yoan trice f l TELEPHONE y,

RELAY Application led .Tune 17,

v`his invention relates to electromagnetic devices, and more particularly to such devices which are commonly termed relays. It is-one of theobjects of this invention to provide an improved type of4 relay which is simple and compact of construction. v Another object is to' provide a relay with multi pairs of contacts'for cont-rolling a plurality of circuits.4 Y t 1 w Another object of the inventionis to pro,-V vide a relay with contact elements which are relativelyunadected by Vvibration and free from the accumulation of dirt. f

A further object is to provide for greater reliability in the functioning of the contact elements.

The novel features which are'considered characteristic of this invention are setforth with particularity in the appended claims. 2S The invention itself, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with other objects and advantages thereof, will be further explained in the followingdetailed description, having reference to the accompanying drawing consisting of the following figures:

Figure lis aside elevation in section of the improved device provided with a single contact chamber;

Fig, 2 is a view on a line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

. Fig. 3 is a view similarto Fig. 1 showing `the device provided with a plurality of contactv chambers; y

. Fig. 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Y l

Fig. 5 is an elevation showing another modification of theV invention;V an Y F ig.- 6 is a view talren on the line 66 Vof Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, the casing 5 for the improved device therein illustrated is shown as being of substantiallycylindrical form. This casing may be composed of any ysuitable non-magnetic materiah and while it is shownand described as being of a particular shape, it will be understood that it may be of a different formation, .The casjing completely encloses the various elements N `of the relay, which willfbe later'described, Q and `may be substantially air-tight to vpre- 1930. Serial No. 461,756.

vent the entrance of dirt or other foreign matter. Ay core having suitable magnetic properties, such, for instance, as permalloy, is provided for the relay.V This core comprises a central cylindrical portion 6, a spaced outer circular portion 7, which is concentric i thereto, and ,a bottom circular portion 8. A

top circular portion 9 forms a cap for the other elementsofthe core. A-coil 10 is wound about the -central portion 6 of the core, and :eo occupies the space between the core elements 6 and 7. The ends of the winding of the coil l0 are connected to terminals 11 carried by the casing 5. These terminals furnish connection points for the conductors of a 55 circuit by which the relay is energized. i A chamber is provided between the base portion 8 of the core and the bottoms of the portion 6 of the core and the coil 10. In Figs. l and 2, contact plates 12and 13, which may 7,0 be substantially lflat and circular in form,v are mounted in aparallel position with respect to each other within this chamber. A disk 14 of insulation is vprovided between the plate 12 and the bottoms of the portion 6 of .75 the core and the winding 10,; and a second disk 14 of insulation is provided between the bottom'plate 13 and portion 8 of the core. rlhe Contact plates 12 `and 13 are insulated from each other by a washer 15 which is po-4 50 `sitioned inthe chambers previously Vmentioned.` The Contact plates 12 and 13in Fig. 1 are provided with terminals 16 and 17, .respectively. These terminals are connected lwith the contact plates by extensions which v. S5,

pass lthrough, openings provided in the por-l tion 7 of the core and in the wall ,of the casing 5. Y The `extensions to the termina'ls'areV properly insulated froml thefcore, and the terminals furnish connection pointsfo'r' thea@ f conductors of a `control circuit.

In Figs. 1 and 2,'com`minuted materiall18 is provided in the chamberat the bottoni of the casing within the washer 15 previously referred to. In Figs.V 3l to 6, inclusive, this chamber is divided into four compartments by an insulating member 19 which is provided-with four radial arms. The memberl) may be'integral withthe washer 15. In Figs.

3' to 6, inclusive, there are four pairs of se'g-` `109y mental contact plates 20, 21, 22 and 23 provided. Each of the pairs of contact plates is positioned in a compartment between the radial arms ot the member 19, and pairs of terminals 24, 25, 26 and 27 are provided for the contact plat-es. Each pair of terminals furnishes connection points for the conductors of control circuits. The material 18-may be composed ot any suitable magnetic dust,

for instance, permalloy'dust. Swing to its.

high initial permeability and low coercive torce, permalloy dust should render the relay relatively sensitive in operation. rlie dustmay be plated with gold, or other snit.- able metal, if desired, to obtain a contact of comparatively low resistance. Upon the ex-y citation of the coil 10, a magnetic field is `caused to traverse the central and outer sections of the core, and is closed throughthe material 18 in the chamber or chambers. The comminuted material contained in the chamber or chambers is attracted upwardly in the path of the flux and is held between the single pair of contact plates 12 and 13 in Figs. 1 and feature of the relay the comminuted material Y may be immersed in oil. `When the excitation of the coil ceases, the comminuted material falls from the upper Contact plates and opens the external circuits.

Figs. 1,2 and 3, 4 are adapted to be connected to a source of direct current. Figs. 1 and 2 are provided with a pair ,of contacts to which the conductors of one control circuit are connected. Figs. 3 and 4 are provided with multi pairs of contacts, and each pair is connected to a control circuit.

Figs. 5 and 6 disclose a modification ot' therelay shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The relay shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is similar in construction and operation to the relay illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, but is adapted to be used with alternating current. The portion 6 of the core in Figs. 5 and 6 is provided with a shading ring 28 which is shown as positioned in circular openings provide-d in the portions 6. The shading ring may be composed of copper o r any other good conducting material whichV has no appreciable resistance, and

is suitably insulated from the core and from the pairs Yof contact plates 20, 21, 22, and 23. The ring lies in a coaxial position withrespect to the portion 6 of the core and the pairs of contact plates. The ring 28 is included in the cross-section of the magnetic l circuit. When a change of flux'occurs in the Vmagnetic circuit,'current is generated in the ring in such a direction that it opposes and delays a corresponding change in the flux which it interlinlrs. In this way a continuous flux is insured through some portion of the air gap and a constant attraction of the comminuted .material is maintained somewhere between each of the pairs of contact plates 20, 21, 22, and 23 when the coil is excited by alternating current.

To reduce oxidation or arcing, an inert gas, such as nitrogen, may be introduced into the contact chambers ofthe structures shown in the various figures.

` In-.the operation of the improved devices, theelectromagnetic structures are energized by an electric current. This causes an excitation ofthe coil which in turn causes the magnetic dust. contained in the chambers to bridgeI the gap between each pair ofV parallel contact plates, and close a circuit over the plate terminals.

What is claimed is: Y

1. A unitary relay structure comprising a core and a coil associated therewith, parallel contact elements spaced one above the other and having a gap therebetween, said contact element-s forming the terminals of an electrical circuit, andcomminuted material responsive to theeXcitation of the coil for closing the gap between said contact elements.l

2. A unitary relay structure comprising a core and a coil associated therewith, two parallel contact elements spaced one above the other and having a gap therebetween, comminuted material responsive to the excitation of the coil for closing the gap between said contact elements, and a casing for enclosing all of the structure of the re- 3. A relay comprising a core and a coil associated therewith, a plurality of Vpairs of contact elements for the relay, each pair having a gap therebetween, comminuted material resting on oneot the elements of each pair and becoming responsive to the excitation of the coil for closing the gap between both of the elements ot each of the pairs, and terminals associated with each pair of contact elements.

4. A relay comprising a core and a coil associated therewith, a plurality ofY pairs of contact elements for the relay, each pair ,"minuted material in each of the compart- Vconductorsconnected to each pair of contact ments resting on one of the elements of each pair and responsive to the excitationV of the coil for completely closing the gaps between all of the pairs of contact elements, and a casingfor enclosing all the relay. Y Y

5. A relay comprising a core and aicoil associated therewith, a plurality of pairs of contact elements, each pair 'of contacts of the elements of having a gap therebetween, comminuted material resting on one of the elements of each of the pairs and responsive to the excitation of the coil for completely closing the gaps between each pair of contact elements, and means associated with said core for insuring constant attraction of a portion of said material in each gap upon excitation of the coil by alternating current.

6. A unitary relay structure comprising a core having an outer casing and a central extension, a coil positioned between said casing and central extension, a plurality of pairs of contact elements arranged in parallel position with respect to each other and having equal gaps therebetween, comminuted material between the contact elements of each pair and resting on one of said elements and responsive to the excitation of the coil for completely closing the gap between said contact elements, and a housing for enclosing the elements of said relay.

7. A unitary relay structure comprising a core and a coil, a pair of parallel contact elements having a gap therebetween, means enclosing said contact elements to form a chamber resting on one of said elements and spaced from the other, and comminuted material in said chamber responsive to the excitation of the coil for closing the gap between both of said Contact elements.

8. A unitary relay structure comprising a coil having a gap in its magnetic circuit, separated contacts in said gap, and comminuted material in said gap resting on one of said contacts and spaced from the other of said contacts, said comminuted material being movable in response to the excitation of said coil to completely bridge the separation between said contacts.

9. A relay comprising a core and a coil, a plurality of pairs of contact elements having a common gap between the elements of each pair, means enclosing said contact elements to form a chamber, comminuted material in said chamber resting on one of the elements of each pair and responsive to the excitation of the coil for completely closing the gap between said contact elements, and means associated with said core for insuring the constant attraction of a portion of said material in the gap upon excitation of the coil by alternating current.

l0. A relay comprising a core and a coil, said core having a gap in its magnetic circuit, a plurality of pairs of separated contact elements in said gap, comminuted material in said gap resting on one of the elements of each pair and movable in response to the excitation of said coil to completely bridge the separation between said contact elements, and means associated with said core to cause the attraction of a portion of said i comminutedmaterial to permanently bridge rela com risin a core and a coil terial in said chamber rest-ing on one of said elements and spaced from the other and responsive to the excitation of the coil for completely closing the gap between said contact elements, and an inert gas in said chamber.

12. A relay comprising a core and a coil, a pair of contact elements having a gap therebetween, means enclosing said contact elements to form a chamber, comminuted material in said chamber resting on one of said elements and spaced from the other and responsive to the excitation of the coil for completely closing the gap between said contact elements, and gas in said chamber to prevent oxidation and arcing.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 13th day of June, 1930.

HENRY M. BASCOM. 

